BMW M Performance Automobiles: tri-turbo diesel trio F10 BMW M550xd, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d!

BMW’s new 3.0 litre tri-turbo diesel engine found in its recently unveiled trio of new BMW M Performance Automobiles lifts the bar on what a performance turbodiesel can be. Rather than simply increase cylinder count and displacement to create a big monster of an engine like Volkswagen’s V10 and V12 TDIs, BMW chose to extract more power out of their 3.0 litre engine, which already exists in single and twin-turbo form.

Check out the video above – watch it from the 40 second mark onwards to watch the redline. I can tell you that a regular diesel-powered F10 520d and 530d will usually have an engine RPM meter up to the 5,500rpm mark, where the redline begins from about 4,700rpm. While these are very capable turbo diesel engines – especially the punch that’s delivered from the smaller 2.0 litre sibling – they’re still considered pretty simple in the way that they only use one turbo for boost.

BMW M Performance Automobiles: tri-turbo diesel trio F10 BMW M550xd, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d!

When BMW added the second turbo to the 3.0 litre and created the engine that powers cars like the 335d, the 640d and the 740d, diesel enthusiasts everywhere ogled at the promise of an extended powerband, which combines the best of both worlds – gobs of punchy torque immediately after idle, and a prolonged high which lasted up to a 5,000rpm redline – 300pm higher than before.

As a comparison, the twin turbo 40d models made 306 horsepower and 600Nm of torque, compared to the single turbo 30d model’s 245 horsepower and 540Nm. The twin turbo setup combines a smaller turbo with a bigger turbo, that activates at different times according to need. Common rail pressure was also increased from 1,800 bar to 2,000 bar, while compression ratio stays the same at 16.5:1.

BMW M Performance Automobiles: tri-turbo diesel trio F10 BMW M550xd, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d!

And now BMW has taken it up a notch with the new 3.0 litre tri-turbo diesel, found in the M550xd, X5 M50d, X6 M50d and most recently the 750d. Thanks to three turbochargers, common-rail direct injection with piezo injectors (during each power stroke, three pre-injections, one main injection and four post-injections of fuel take place) and maximum injection pressure of 2,200 bar, BMW manages to extract 381 horsepower between 4,000-4,400rpm and 740Nm of torque between 2,000-3,000rpm, stretching the redline all the way up to 5,400rpm.

The size, arrangement and interplay strategy of the three turbochargers are designed to produce high power delivery across a wide rev band. The system comprises two relatively small turbochargers and one large turbo, which join forces precisely to deliver the amount of power required. One of the two small turbos is activated at engine speeds just above idle. Its low moment of inertia allows it to respond without delay to the slightest movements of the accelerator and therefore supply the combustion chambers with compressed air at an early stage.

BMW M Performance Automobiles: tri-turbo diesel trio F10 BMW M550xd, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d!

As revs increase, the flow of exhaust gas also reaches the larger turbocharger, which announces its arrival with the engine spinning at just 1,500 rpm. To further increase the performance of the large turbocharger, a greater volume of exhaust gas is required at around 2,700 rpm.

If the driver calls up additional power, a vacuum-modulated exhaust flap instantly opens up another supply route, allowing extra exhaust gas to flow past the already active high-pressure charger to the large low-pressure turbo. The third turbocharger – integrated into this bypass line – also has a low moment of inertia and variable compressor geometry, which allow it to spring into action as soon as the exhaust flap opens.

BMW M Performance Automobiles: tri-turbo diesel trio F10 BMW M550xd, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d!

The result is additional charge pressure, generated by two sources at the same time. The large turbocharger is able to deliver its full output, while the second small turbo builds on the effect of its two active colleagues by supplying even more compressed air to the combustion chambers.

If the large turbocharger is spinning at particularly high speeds, a vacuum regulator opens a wastegate valve to relieve the pressure and so avoid unwanted exhaust backpressure. The supply of fresh air is also controlled according to need by means of pneumatically activated flaps. For example, at low revs a bypass flap ensures that the air is channelled directly to the high-pressure charger, which spins into action very early. At less than 2,700 rpm a change-over flap keeps the air away from the third turbo, which is not yet active, to prevent unnecessary fluctuations in pressure.

BMW M Performance Automobiles: tri-turbo diesel trio F10 BMW M550xd, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d!

And like the new M5’s petrol engine, BMW has decided to give the M Performance diesel engine some extra help with sounding good to the driver. The audio system’s DSP xchanges data directly with the engine management, allowing it to base its precise transmission of the engine’s timbre on the revs at any one time, the amount of torque being produced and the car’s speed over the road. This helps to add “emotional” appeal to the car’s sound, which you might not expect from a diesel engine, but personally I think the 6-cylinder BMW diesels sound pretty good on to go on their own, unlike the 4-cylinders which have good shove but sound so-so.

In all the cars it’s offered in so far, the new tri-turbo engine is mated only with BMW’s 8-speed automatic – no manual rowing for you here. BMW also gave the M550xd, X5 M50d and X6 M50d M-specific tuning of suspension, bodyshell mounting, engine and transmission mounting, springs and dampers, and Servotronic mapping for the hydraulic steering. So it’s not a full blown M car like the M5, X5 M or X6 M with a bespoke engine and twin clutch gearbox, but you do get something pretty special.

BMW M Performance Automobiles: tri-turbo diesel trio F10 BMW M550xd, BMW X5 M50d and BMW X6 M50d!

The trio also comes with xDrive only, which also means that you won’t see the M550xd brought in by grey importers as BMW only makes the xDrive F10 in left hand drive. The M Performance cars also get their own bumper look, which is kind of a derivative of the M Sport bumper of the respective cars but with the fog lamps removed and replaced with a horizontal bar.

Look after the jump for a mega gallery of the new M tri-turbo diesel cars.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • Godlike. Can’t wait to see triturbos on their petrol siblings.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • RedBeanBun on Jun 19, 2012 at 8:02 am

    driving so fast and reach 200+kM/hr!!!!!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • jolly_idiot on Jun 19, 2012 at 8:05 am

    It over kill us with turbo. How about the fuel consumption?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • M550d xd: 6.3l/100km

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • Kalun on Jun 20, 2012 at 12:21 am

        not bad. Since Diesel has good fuel consumption, output torque and very reliable. It is awesome!

        Quad turbo? On the way!
        Nowadays diesel engine are getting more powerful, more silent and produce even less CO, than Petrol rival.

        Diesel still FTW!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • braderG on Jun 19, 2012 at 8:22 am

    is there any way in msia we could DIY EURO 2 diesel and turn it to EURO 4/5 diesel? pm me best price

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • No, not really.

      EURO4/5 Diesel has less sulfur than EURO2. The sulfur is removed during the refining process. So unless you own a refinery, there’s no way to make EURO4 Diesel from EURO2 Diesel.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • khairulx19a on Jun 19, 2012 at 10:03 am

    more power yet more fuel efficient

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • the krauts are really agressive at smoking out others with better tech

    i really wish the japanese car industry particularly the 4×4 segment could learn from this because they make good mid size trucks but no soul invested in the development of its diesel engine and car as a whole

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ben yap on Jun 19, 2012 at 1:55 pm

    my kancil can do better than that in its accelaration.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Jeremyng on Jun 19, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    Who said that current diesel combustion engine are out to date ??!! It still hv so many potential to be explore by those engineers……. The creator of the first combustion engine is a GENIUS !!!! after so many years, engineers still able to find way to make it more powerful yet efficient

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Kalun on Jun 20, 2012 at 12:23 am

      Thanks to Karlz Benz of Mercedes-Daimler Benz.

      He created the first conbustion engine from diesel to petrol.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • alex chan on Jun 19, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    they must study preve` CFE engine to make this tri turbo one..proud of preve` CFE engine!…even BMW do copy this CFE high performance engine!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • price?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Even though this is not a full blown M car, this F10 M550D can already match or even outrun the older E39 M5…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • got turbo? I have 3 la brader!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Gavin on Jun 19, 2012 at 10:40 pm

    I think I prefer Mazda’s approach to their engines rather then slapping in more turbos , I don’t think they will survive our heat

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Anon Kneemas on Jun 20, 2012 at 1:39 am

    For years we scoff at folks for improper M badging (e.g. how many badged ///M520i have we seen around KL :) ). But it seems these folks had some sort of crystal ball cos lo and behold BMW has adopted this arcane and superfluous badging convention *sigh*

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • yanes on Jun 21, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    cool. age of the d’s baby.. :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required